Together with strengthening the local economy, Fauna and Flora International (FFI) also helped carry out management of provincial fisheries. This was done through engaging and empowering the Panglima Laot.
Panglima Laot refers to ‘Sea Commander’. It is both the name of the institution and the title of the elder fishermen who are elected from among the senior boat captains to lead the fishermen in the immediate area. The duties of the Panglima Laot include enforcing traditional fishing regulations, controlling access to key areas, resolving disputes between fishermen and organizing sea rescues for vessels in distress.
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed an estimated 167,000 lives, including 14,000 fishermen and 59 of the 193. One consequence of so many lives lost was that much of the traditional knowledge, normally handed from one generation to another, was lost. One such knowledge was the locations of underwater hazards, such as coral reefs, which would damage their fishing nets.
FFI initiated a community-based bathymetric survey project. Bathymetry is the study of underwater depth of lake or ocean floors. Its aim was to map out fishing resources and underwater hazards for the benefit of the Aceh fishing community.
Eight service centres were set up in Banda Aceh, Lhoksuemawe, Calang, Lhoong, Meulaboh, Sigli, Meurdeu and Peudada. The purpose of these centres was to train the Panglima Laot on how to chart bathymetric maps. By collecting the bathymetric data, producing the maps, and spreading the information to the fishermen, the fishermen could avoid certain dangerous areas and, consequently, dramatically reduce the frequency with which they ripped their nets and harm the coral reefs. One demonstration of this is a Panglima Laot decree which limits fishing in areas of high coral density.
The project also produced unintended benefits. Several sea mounts, which were undocumented before, were identified. Seamounts are lively marine ecosystems where pelagic (close to the bottom of the sea) species are present. One of these seamounts expanded Aceh’s provincial boundary by 1.3m hectare.
You can read how exactly the bathymetric survey was carried out here:
Wilson, C., & Linkie, M. (2012). The Panglima Laot of Aceh: a case study in large-scale community-based marine management after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Oryx, 46(04), 495-500.